Ella Monnery competing in The Voice Australia before the Covid-19 lockdown sent her back to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Ella Monnery competing in The Voice Australia before the Covid-19 lockdown sent her back to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Two Kiwi rising stars have had their dreams of starring on The Voice Australia cut short by Covid-19 travel restrictions.
When coronavirus began hitting around the world, The Voice - a televised singing competition with celebrity judges including Delta Goodrem and Kelly Rowland - had just finished filming the "battle" rounds, which aired on TV recently.
As the show took a break, New Zealand contestants Ella Monnery and Caleb Jago-Ward both headed home to be with their families.
They had both just won their rounds but as changes swept through the show's filming plans due to Covid-19, they had an anxious wait at home to learn what it meant for their return to the show.
But when the show began filming again in May, they couldn't return to Australia due to border restrictions.
They requested exemptions from the Australian government, but to no avail.
"I tried to follow my dreams, but Covid had other plans for me," Monnery tells the Herald on Sunday.
And it had been like a dream for the 24-year-old, born and raised in Wellington but living and working as a singer in Auckland, after she was scouted by the show in October to audition for a part.
She made it through auditions and started filming with the show in February, being selected to join the team of American singer songwriter Kelly Rowland, of Destiny's Child fame.
Ella Monnery competing on The Voice Australia. Photo / Supplied
She made it through two rounds before the show stopped filming in March and she had to head home.
She found out her fate in May, but had to wait until her round had been screened on television this week before she could speak publicly about it.
"Covid has affected my Ella," Kelly Rowland said in the show. "She's in New Zealand and like me, she can't travel."
Monnery - who has been singing since she can remember - said she had a "little cry" when she found out she couldn't go back.
"I was so gutted. My whole year had been planned around that."
Initially she and Jago-Ward fought hard for exemptions from the Australian government, but these were ultimately turned down.
"They let the whole Warriors team go, but not one female singer," Monnery said.
But over the last two months, seeing the impacts of Covid-19 around the world, she had come to terms with the situation.
"Seeing what everyone is going through, we are all struggling, but I am alive and healthy, and I can still sing, do what I love."
To be selected personally by Rowland was "amazing".
"She is so gracious and down to earth. I am absolutely disappointed to not see her again and work with her. I've also made some pretty amazing friends, so it sucks knowing I'm not going back to be with everyone again."
Jago-Ward, who was part of Boy George's team, had been on the show five years before, and told the show while he was disappointed he was "more gutted" for Monnery.
"This was her first go around, and I hope she'll consider coming back for more."
Monnery told the Herald on Sunday the show had indicated all things going well she could potentially return next year.
